New European Ensemble to perform Hans Werner Henze works in Italy

The New European Ensemble, directed by Carlo Boccadoro, will perform Hans Werner Henze’s monumental song cycle, “Voices,” as part of celebrations for the centenary of the German composer’s birth. The performances are scheduled for November 4 at the Auditorium Parco della Musica in Rome and at the Teatro Cavallerizza.

“Voices,” composed in 1973, features twenty-two songs set to poetic texts from diverse global traditions, including works by Bertolt Brecht, Giuseppe Ungaretti, Heinrich Heine, and Ho Chi Minh. The cycle addresses themes of political engagement, oppression, and social justice through a polyphonic mosaic of sounds. The musical arrangement utilizes a combination of mezzo-soprano, tenor, electronics, and fifteen instrumentalists playing over fifty different instruments from various cultures.

Henze, a significant figure in twentieth-century music who lived in Italy for over fifty years, integrated political consciousness into his artistic compositions. The performances also coincide with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Italy and Germany.